The 4 Possible Reasons a Dog Throws Up After Eating Ice
Some dogs have sensitive stomachs, so by ingesting ice blocks or snow, your dog’s stomach could have difficulty processing the coldness and thus cause your dog to throw up. There is a possibility that your dog’s stomach can spasm from the sudden cold after they have ingested ice which can cause them to vomit out of discomfort and stomach pain. This will usually happen as soon as your dog has swallowed a piece of the ice before it has a chance to melt.
Ice contains a large amount of water and if your dog is consuming a large portion of snow or ice blocks, then it could lead to bloating issues. Bloating is also common in dogs who consume lots of ice and gulp it down as it pushes excess air into their stomachs and can potentially cause a stomachache and digestive discomfort.
Ice is not a direct contribution to bloating in dogs but consuming too much water at once is. Since ice and snow are solidified water, your dog might be gulping down too much water that their body can handle at once.
Although ice cubes from the tap and placed in the freezer will rarely be contaminated with any harmful substances that can make your dog throw up, the same does not apply to snow or ice that forms outdoors. Certain chemicals can leach from soils, plants, and drainage systems outdoors that can become frozen in the ice. Once this ice with the harmful contaminants is ingested, it can make your dog feel sick and can lead to vomiting.
Some contaminants (such as pesticides, herbicides, or drain leakage) can cause poisoning in your dog which will require prompt veterinarian treatment. If this was to occur, your dog will show other abnormal behaviors aside from just vomiting.
Too Much Ice
It’s okay to put ice cubes in your dog’s water bowl or break them up into smaller pieces into their water bowl. Most of the time, dogs won’t try to pick up the ice cubes in their mouths and eat them whole. But, you still want to avoid giving them too much. To avoid this issue altogether, try to put a normal amount of ice in their water bowls. Too much ice can result in very cold water which is also not good for your dog’s body. Excessive ice can hurt your dog’s stomach and extreme water temperatures aren’t necessary.
What’s best for a dog’s upset stomach?
Vets often suggest a bland diet to treat a dog’s upset stomach. Rice and chicken, or a more specific diet, removes the irritating substances from food to help your dog’s digestive system rebalance itself.
Soda. Like all caffeinated and sugary drinks, soda is off limits for dogs. While a little sip likely won’t hurt him, sharing more of your soda can elevate your dog’s blood sugar too high and also cause caffeine toxicity.